Hazardous Chemical Waste

Collection by outside vendors

According the the APS 11.2, the University of Washington Environmental Health and Safety Department has all responsibility for collection of hazardous waste for the University, all its campuses and offsite locations. This means that you cannot contract with an outside vendor to collect your waste.

The APS 11.2 reads:

"Environmental Health and Safety Department

The Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S) has authority and responsibility for management of the collection, transport, temporary storage, and disposal of regulated wastes, including the recycling of solvents, redistribution of unused chemicals, and waste minimization techniques."

Wastes that are generated on a regular basis may be set up as Routines. To do
this, fill out a New Routine Chemical Waste Collection
Request (PDF). Your chemical waste is assigned a routine number, and we know the
composition of your waste and where you are located. If you already have a Routine number
and want a pickup, fill out the online Routine Chemical Waste Collection Request
with the number and amount of waste. If you have questions about whether a waste
qualifies for routine collection, email chmwaste@uw.edu or call 206.616.5835.

What is hazardous chemical waste?

Chemicals that are corrosive, flammable, toxic, or explosive are "hazardous". Some additional chemicals are managed as hazardous waste at UW because they are known, probable or suspected carcinogens, teratogens, irritants and/or sensitizers (see a current MSDS for the chemical to determine if the chemical is any of these.) For more information, refer to Section 3 of the Laboratory Safety Manual (PDF), take the online Managing Laboratory Chemicals training or call 206.616.5835. Also refer to local sewer discharge limits for some common laboratory chemicals.

Mixtures of chemicals may not be hazardous waste, depending on their concentration and toxicity. For information on how to calculate whether a mixture of chemicals is hazardous waste, see Section 3 of the Laboratory Safety Manual (PDF).

If you are unwilling or unable to determine if your chemical or chemical mixture is hazardous, fill out and send a Waste Evaluation Request and EH&S will send you the answer.

Hazardous Waste Self-Audit Checklist

Use the Hazardous Waste Self-Audit Checklist to evaluate your compliance with hazardous waste regulations. This checklist was developed by EH&S to help UW staff prepare for periodic hazardous waste inspections by the Department of Ecology, but it can be used at any time.

"Waste-like" chemicals

"Waste-like" chemicals have faded labels, deteriorating containers, leaks and/or other obvious signs that the chemicals are not being used and are very likely to not be used in the future.

Request collection of "waste-like" chemicals as hazardous waste. Regulatory staff conduct periodic inspections of laboratories and may assess fines for the presence of "waste-like" chemicals. These chemicals present an unreasonable risk of spills and exposures.

Legacy chemicals

Legacy chemicals are unwanted chemicals left behind by a previous occupant of your laboratory space. Occupants moving out of a space have the responsibility of cleaning out the space, but unfortunately this doesn't always happen. Request collection of legacy chemicals as hazardous waste. There is no charge for waste collection except for unknowns and unstable peroxide formers. See the EH&S Guidelines for Peroxide Forming Chemicals for more information.

Unknown chemicals

Shops and facilities hazardous waste

For hazardous wastes commonly found in machine shops and facilities, please see the Chemical Waste Guide for Facilities Services(PDF). This Guide covers what to do for shop rags, aerosol cans, used oil, pesticides and more. It includes a page that can be used as a training document.